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Saturday, December 6, 2014

Monsanto-killer or ‘Trojan Horse’? New law lets EU states ban GM crops

The European Union has approved a law that will enable the bloc’s 28
member states to restrict the cultivation of genetically modified crops,
even if the EU has declared them as safe. The law comes despite furious
lobbying from multinationals.

Previously, countries that opposed the cultivation of crops
approved by Brussels potentially faced legal challenges. Now, any
country may unilaterally ban a particular genetically modified
variety of seed – or even “groups of GMOs defined by crop or
trait” – and additionally demand that their neighbors do not
contaminate their fields.

The EU legislation will come into force in spring next year,
pending a formal agreement from the individual states. Among the
states likely to find use for the statute are France, Germany,
Austria and Poland, which have consistently opposed gene-splicing
technologies.

“The agreement, if confirmed, would meet member states'
consistent calls since 2009 to have the final say on whether or
not GMOs can be cultivated on their territory, in order to better
take into account their national context and, above all, the
views of their citizens,” said a statement from EU Food
Safety Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis.

“The text agreed is in line with EU President Juncker’s
commitment, as reflected in his political guidelines, to give the
democratically elected governments at least the same weight as
scientific advice when it comes to important decisions concerning
food and environment.”

Some scientists and industry groups say the decision undermines
the continent-wide system of certification, a key tenet of the
EU’s common market, as well allowing irrational prejudices to
overrule reasoned study. All previous EU-commissioned studies
have failed to detect harm from GMOs.

Biotech giants had hoped that a clause would be included in the
legislation that would force governments to consult with them
before terminating any crop.

“Rejecting modern technologies on non-scientific grounds sets
a dangerous precedent for the internal market and sends a
negative signal for innovative industries worldwide considering
whether or not to invest and operate in Europe,” said a
written statement from EuropaBio, the European Association for
Bioindustries.

Yet some believe that the new law will allow the deadlock over GM
crops to be broken after nearly two decades of controversy. Due
to opposition from the EU heavyweights, only one GM crop has been
approved since 1998. About 0.1 percent of land on the continent
is used to grow genetically-modified crops, specifically
Monsanto’s MON810 maize.

Officials have speculated that the new nation-oriented rules will
allow more leeway for proponents of GM crops, such as Britain and
the Iberian states, to go ahead.

The new law is "finally opening the door to
genetically-modified organisms across Europe, in spite of
citizens' clear opposition," said Green MEP Bart Staes, who
called the new proposal a “Trojan Horse.”

Meanwhile, market leader Monsanto, which last year said it would
not try to get any more GM crops approved in Europe, remained
unperturbed, insisting its business does not rely on favors from
the EU.

“What we sell in Europe today is 99.5 percent conventional
seeds. So if you think about it, we are not a GMO company,”
Leticia Goncalves, the company’s Europe and Middle East regional
president, told the media.

“To be honest, we have a very healthy business today in terms
of growth expectations,” said the executive of the US-based
company, which had revenues of nearly $15 billion last year.

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